NATO was formed during the Cold War to provide security for its member states and assure mutual destruction with the Soviet Union (USSR).
[5][6] The second policy, 'temporal escalation', consists of prolonging conventional warfare until neither side can continue the war effort, causing a stalemate.
[citation needed] The third policy, 'surprise escalation', involves attempting to prevent the opposing nation from initiating a nuclear war.
[8] NATO reasoned that the U.S. still guaranteed strategic help should the USSR invade Europe; additionally, the U.S. would be forced to enter the conflict due to many of its international interests being jeopardized.
[9] To further increase deterrence, NATO adopted dual capable missile systems, which allowed for either a conventional payload or a nuclear one.
[14] The solution to a nuclear escalation in international diplomacy lies in a concerted approach rooted in transparency, dialogue, and the establishment of universally acceptable norms.
Regular dialogue can help reduce suspicion and foster a sense of security among nations, potentially diminishing the perceived need for nuclear arsenals as a deterrent strategy.
This includes acknowledging and addressing the concerns of non-nuclear states, thus creating an environment conducive to cooperation and shared security.
Lastly, education and public awareness of nuclear weapons' catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences could also play a pivotal role in creating a global consensus against atomic escalation.